The Medical Condition that Could be Destroying Your Child's Teeth

Posted on 9/30/2016 by Fariba Mutschler

Being a parent can be tough! There are so many things we aren't even aware of that can affect our health and the health of our children. GERD (GastroEsophageal Refflux Disease) is a condition where the very strong acids within the stomach leak back up the esophagus and into the mouth. The repercussions can be severe and very destructive to teeth.

How do I Know if My Child has GERD?

If can be difficult to tell if a child has GERD because many times kids won't know to what to relate to you other than the stereotypical, "I feel funny." Some kids may not even notice the heartburn-like symptoms of GERD. The best way to tell if your child has GERD is to look for some of the typical symptoms like:

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Frequent belching

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Chronic coughing

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Pharyngitis

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Tooth erosion

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Laryngitis

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Painful swallowing

If your child shows any of these symptoms or complains about these kinds of issues it is important that you act quickly and schedule an appointment with us by calling 971-470-0045.

If the condition is left untreated for an extended period of time the acid from the stomach can actually eat away at your child's teeth. Needless to say, teeth don't repair themselves and without strong and healthy teeth a child can be adversely impacted.

What can I do to Curb the Impact of GERD?

Again, if your child shows symptoms GERD you should call us to setup and appointment right away. In the meantime some good rules of thumb are:

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No eating within two hours of bed time.

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Keep head elevated during sleep

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Avoid foods that are highly acidic

Fortunately, there are a number of very helpful acid reducer medications that can be prescribed to patients suffering from GERD and general heartburn issues.